Centrifugal cleaner for mechanical parts



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CENTRIFUGAL CLEANERFOR MECHANICAL PARTS Filed April s; 195e 4 sheets-sheet :s

IN V EN TOR. Uirgil H Hdkins BY Sept. 8, 1959 v. H. ADKlNs CENTRFUCAL CLEANER FCR MECHANICAL PARTS y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 3, 1956 mmh TTYS

Unitedd States Patent O CENTRIFUGAL CLEANER 'FOR MECHANICAL PARTS Virgil Homer Adkins, Houston, Tex., assignor of onefourth to Adele H. Etoch and one-fourth to Jack Greenfield, both of Helena, Ark.

Application April 3, `1956, Serial No. '575,747

1 Claim. (Cl. 134-161) This invention relates to a centrifugal, parts-cleaning machine, and particularly to one especially designed for cleaning heavy parts, such as those found in the mechanisms of automotive, aeronautical, electrical and similar units.

A major object of this invention is to provide, in a machine for the purpose which includes a rotary partscontaining receptacle, a means mounting such receptacle for rotation in such a manner that vibration is avoided, regardless of the weight of the parts being cleaned.

Another object is to so mount the receptacle that it may be readily removed from its mounting means for loading and unloading purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning machine which includes a number of separate tanks for different cleaning solutions, and a dry air blast, and means to enable the parts receptacle to be immersed in the solution in any or all of the tanks in succession, and subjected to the drying action of the air blast, in any sequence desired by the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a centrifugal cleaner which is designed for ease and econorny of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable centrifugal cleaner, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appearby `a perusal of the following specification and claims:

In the drawings: `Y v Fig. l is a side elevation of the machine, showing the parts receptacle in its fully raised position; the base being shown partly broken out and in section to disclose the air blower therein, and one of the solution tanks being also partly broken awayA and in section.

. Fig. 2 is 'a similar view, showing the receptacle lowered into Va'solution tank.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the machine, showing the parts receptacle over one of the solution tanks.

Fig. 4 is a similar View, showing the receptacle over the air blast opening.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the parts receptacle, together with its bottom supporting arm.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the machine comprises a heavy hollow base 1 which supports a rigid upstanding post 2 disposed substantially centrally of the base. Slidable and non-turnable on the post is an arm or platform 3, projecting mainly from the forward side of the post.

Mounted on the platform is a horizontal-axis electric motor 4 Which, through the medium of a speed-reducing gear box 5, drives a depending shaft 6, located near the end 0f the platform furthest from the post. This shaft is connected in driving relation with a cylindrical receptacle or container for the parts to be cleaned and which is indicated generally at 7, being described in detail hereinafter.

An auxiliary post 8 depends from and is slidably mounted for vertical movement in the platform 3 behind the receptacle 7 parallel to the shaft 6, being releasably clamped against movement relative to the platform by suitable means such as a clamping wedge 9. An arm 10 projects from the lower end of post `8 under and supports the receptacle 7 as will be seen later. The platform 3 is releasably held from sliding movement on post 2 by suitable means such as a clamping wedge 11. The weight of the platform and the various members mounted thereon, or supported thereby, is counterbalanced by a weight 12 suspended from a cable 13 behind post 2. This cable extends over a pulley 14 on the back end of the platform,

and then over a pulley 15 mounted on top of the post 2 to an anchor point 16 on the platform.

Turnable about the lower end of post 2, as an axis, is a turntable platform 17 supported from base 1 for easy rotation by suitable anti-friction bearing members 18. Mounted on the turntable in fixed positions are a plurality of open topped tanks 19 to contain cleaning solutions of different natures or strength. These tanks are spaced circumferentially on the turntable and so that they are centered the same distance from post 2 as the shaft 6. The

height of the tanks is such that they may pass under the receptacle-supporting arm 10 when the latter is fully raised, and their horizontal area is suiiicient to enable post g 6, together with the receptacle 7, to be lowered into the stances such as sand, etc.

same with considerable clearance of receptacle 7 within the tanks, which are preferably square in cross section. Each tank is provided, in the corners and adjacent the upper end thereof, with lter traps 20 to catch heavy sub- Each tank is provided with a top pipe fitting 21 and a bottom pipe tting 22, having a control valve 23 therein; the fittings being adapted for detachable connection with a circulating filter system 24 for the solution in the tank. The filter 25 and pump 26 of this system may be set on the floor to one side of the base.

Mounted in the base is a hot-air blower 27 driven by a motor 28; the outlet passage 29 from the blower terminating in a slot 30 above the base immediately below the turntable and positioned directly under the receptacle 7.`

l the various positions to which it may be turned (so as tof place any tank A19 or the slot 31 in cooperating relation.. with receptacle 7) by means of a radially movable latch'l bar 32 mounted on the base at the front thereof, arranged to engage in one at a time of suitably positioned notches 33 in the periphery of the turntable.

The receptacle 7, which is intended to receive the parts to be cleaned, is constructed as particularly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The solid-walled body or barrel 34 of the receptacle is of cylindrical form, having a bottom plate 35 rigid therewith. Mounted on and under plate 35, centrally thereof, is a suitable annular and thrust bearing unit 36, the inner race 37 of which is arranged to removably tit over a boss 38 mounted on and upstanding from arm 10.

The barrel 34 is open at its upper end for the reception and removal of the parts to be cleaned, and is closed during the cleaning operations by a cover 39 having a depending peripheral flange 40 to engage over the barrel in close fitting relation; the drive shaft 6 being rigidly securedto the cover centrally thereof and thus, of course, in axial alinement with bearing unit-36. Circumferentially spaced lugs 41 project upwardly from the barrel 34 ,through matching slots 42 in the cover 39 so asV to connect the cover and barrel in driving relation, said lugs being releasably clamped to the cover by suitable-catch' devicessuch as are shown at 43. VvBoth vthe cover 39 and the bottom plate are provided with a plurality of openings 44 disposed at an angle relative to the direction vof rotation of the receptacle such that when the receptacle is-submerged in the solution in a tank, such solution will be drawn into the receptacle through these openings. The side wall of the barrel 34 is formed with vertical slots 45 angled relative to the direction of rotation of the receptacle so that solution drawn into the barrel through openings 44 by the rotation thereof will be discharged from the receptacle through slots 45 by centrifugal action. In this manner, a continuous circulation of cleaning solution through the receptacle is had when the receptacle is being rotated at a reasonable speed while submerged in the solution. Cleaning of the parts within the receptacle, by `reason of the iiow of lthe circulating solution therepast, is thus assured.

It will, of course, be understood that the motors 4, and 28, and other electrical features of the machine, are connected to suitable circuits, in which control switches are interposed; these switches being actuated by push or turnbuttons 46 projecting from one side of the base.

In operation, to initially load and mount the receptacle 7, theplatform 3 is irst'raised as high as possible, and after the catches 43 have been released, the post 8 isV lowered relative to the platform, as indicated in Fig. 1. The barrel 34 of the receptacle thus moves down away from the cover 39 so as to disengage the lugs 41 therefrom and to expose the upper open end of said barrel, either for illingthe same in its supported position, or to enable the barrel to be lifted olf the boss 38 for filling. After the barrel has been filled and is in supported position on .thebearing unit 36, the post 8 is pulled up, with the lugs 41 projected through slots 42 in the vertically stationary cover 39; the post being then clamped against downward movement and the lugs 41 being also clamped against movement relative to the barrel.

With one of the solution-containing tanks then disposed under receptacle 7, the latter is lowered into said tank, by correspondingly lowering the platform 3, as shown in Fig. 2, and the motor 4 is then started. The solution then circulates through the receptacle 7 by centrifugal action, Yas previously described, and during or after this operation, the tank may be connected to the solution filtering system 24. After the parts in the receptacle have been subjected to the cleaning action of the solution for a certain period, the motor 4 is stopped and the receptacleraised from the tank. If a further cleaning operation is required, the turntable is turned to dispose another tank .19 under the receptacle 7, and said receptacle is lowered into such tank and again roturntable is turned to dispose slot 31 over the blower outlet 30, the receptacle is again lowered, and the blower motor is started to cause a blast of preferably heated air to be blown upwardly into the receptacle through the bottom openings 44 therein. 'The receptacle may be rotated `during this air `blast action to enhance the circulation of the air and the drying effect thereof on the cleaned parts.

The preferred Working speed of the receptacle is about r.p.m.; the receptacle being supported above and below (by shaft 6 and the arm-mounted bearing boss 38) and thus holding down vibration rto a minimum withoutnecessitating the use of excessively heavy parts in the manufacture of the machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein. t

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction kof the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

In a centrifugal parts-cleaning machine, a supporting platform, a rotary drive shaft supported by and depending from the platform, means on the platform to vdrive the shaft, a receptacle for parts to be cleaned operatively connected to the lower end of the shaft, and means depending from the platform to support the receptacle from below; the receptacle comprising a barrel, a cover for the barrel to which the shaft is rigidly connected, means detachably connecting the cover and barrel in driving relation and releasable upon downward movement of the barrel relative to the cover, and means mounting the receptacle-supporting means for vertical movement rela tive to the platform.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 518,298 West Apr. 17, 1894 1,382,117 Opocensky June 2l, 1921 1,445,320 Johnson Feb. 13, 1923 1,637,902 Holland Aug. 2, 1927 1,661,356 Baker Mar. 6, 1928 1,684,047 Stoven Sept. 11, 1928 1,740,052 Watson Dec. 17, 1929 1,936,315 Tillman Nov. 21, 1933 2,184,020 Repasy Dec. 19, 1939 2,195,123 Pabst Mar. 26, 1940 2,228,698 Fitches Ian. 14, 1941 2,484,149 Bousky Oct. 11, 1949 

